Over Chlorinated (Stupid) When Opening and Now Cloudy

Feernot

Gold Supporter
Jul 22, 2021
49
Arkansas
Pool Size
6800
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Good morning, TFP!

I've been a using TFP for 3 years and evidently lost my mind when opening this week. To be honest, having a 3 year old and a 19 month old has made me dumber ;)

We opened on 4/30 afternoon and I dumped 2 gallons of liquid chlorine (10%) in the pool, which is not what the suggested SLAM amount was. I then added another gallon later that night, the next morning, and again at noon. Again, I'm not sure what I was thinking. Last night the pool was very cloudy and I finally put by brand new regents to the test and got the results below. I was not surprised to see my FC super high at 26.0. Even though I think the ph reading is inaccurate at these levels, I tested it and got 6.9 with a calibrated digital ph meter. I then put 3lbs of Borax (20 Mule) to increase the ph. This morning I got the results below. I've been running the filter 24/7 since opening on 4/30.
  1. Can I rely on the PH readings at all with my digital meter with the FC this high?
  2. Anything I need to do to reverse my dumb mistake of dumping too much chlorine in the pool?
  3. With the FC drop overnight from 26.0 to 21.0 does that mean I should continue my SLAM levels once they reach what they should be?
I plan to just let the FC fall to normal SLAM levels and to go back to basics with using my TFP pool math app and TFTestKit regents. Just wanted to see if there's anything else I needed to consider after being a moron with the liquid cholorine.

5/1 at 11PM
FC = 26.0
CC = 1.0
CYA = 0
PH = 6.9 (Used a freshly calibrated digital ph meter from TFtestkits)

5/2 at 7am
FC = 21.0
CC = 1.0
CYA = 0
PH = 8.0
TA = 50
CH = 25

1714666560961.png
 
Good morning, TFP!

I've been a using TFP for 3 years and evidently lost my mind when opening this week. To be honest, having a 3 year old and a 19 month old has made me dumber ;)

We opened on 4/30 afternoon and I dumped 2 gallons of liquid chlorine (10%) in the pool, which is not what the suggested SLAM amount was. I then added another gallon later that night, the next morning, and again at noon. Again, I'm not sure what I was thinking. Last night the pool was very cloudy and I finally put by brand new regents to the test and got the results below. I was not surprised to see my FC super high at 26.0. Even though I think the ph reading is inaccurate at these levels, I tested it and got 6.9 with a calibrated digital ph meter. I then put 3lbs of Borax (20 Mule) to increase the ph. This morning I got the results below. I've been running the filter 24/7 since opening on 4/30.
  1. Can I rely on the PH readings at all with my digital meter with the FC this high?
  2. Anything I need to do to reverse my dumb mistake of dumping too much chlorine in the pool?
  3. With the FC drop overnight from 26.0 to 21.0 does that mean I should continue my SLAM levels once they reach what they should be?
I plan to just let the FC fall to normal SLAM levels and to go back to basics with using my TFP pool math app and TFTestKit regents. Just wanted to see if there's anything else I needed to consider after being a moron with the liquid cholorine.

5/1 at 11PM
FC = 26.0
CC = 1.0
CYA = 0
PH = 6.9 (Used a freshly calibrated digital ph meter from TFtestkits)

5/2 at 7am
FC = 21.0
CC = 1.0
CYA = 0
PH = 8.0
TA = 50
CH = 25

View attachment 569600
If you really have 0 CYA youll need that to be 30ppm before starting the SLAM. Other than that the FC will fall on its own especially with no CYA.
 
Pool Matt is telling me my SLAM level should be 10 PPM?
Yes. With 0 CYA the slam is 10 FC. But with 0 CYA, the half life of chlorine is something like 30 mins. An hour later the 10 FC is 2.5 and if algae consumed any, it's 0.

You'll go broke by day 3
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bperry
Did you test inbetween all those chlorine additions? With pH being low and no CYA I am wondering if you had ammonia. If yes, then the chlorine seems to have gotten rid of it by now as it is holding.

Anyway, doesn't matter now. Bring your CYA up to 30 and then slam away.

pH meters are not affected by high chlorine, by the way.
 
Thanks for the help. I'm not sure why I didn't add CYA to begin with. I've corrected that as of last night. My FC was dropped down to 5.0.

Not sure why I disregarded everything when opening it up this year. Just got way ahead of myself. Thanks again!